Features

Introduction

In recent years, the United Nations and other multilateral organizations have joined activists, nongovernmental organizations, human rights treaty committees, national governments, transnational courts, and foundations to form a matrix of networks that use human rights as the basis for global governance. In place of more traditional and widely recognized civil and political rights, this matrix of human rights governance networks promotes the recognition, enforcement, and funding of a wide range of ambiguous economic, social, and cultural rights. This section tracks the continuing development and adaptation of this network and its implications for national sovereignty.

International Organizations

September 22, 2017

A group of UN human rights mandate holders has warned that UK authorities are threatening the "economic, social, and cultural rights" of residents and shop owners in the area of an indoor market in London by proceeding with plans for a development project that requires their displacement.

September 22, 2017

The nongovernmental organization Centre for International Governance Innovation has published a paper calling for the Group of 20 (G20) countries to initiate a "global ocean governance process" aimed at multilateral cooperation pushing for the "sustainability" of the world's oceans.

September 22, 2017

Representatives of governments, nongovernmental organizations, academic institutions, and international organizations concluded the 3rd Asia-Pacific Meeting on Education 2030 by adopting a set of "regional recommendations" on education reforms in the Asia-Pacific region to help fulfill wide-ranging education targets under the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

September 21, 2017

The International Committee of the Red Cross President Peter Maurer urged diplomats at the UN General Assembly to support and carry out the Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons as a way to “delegitimize” nuclear weapons and deter proliferation.